Iran threatens to ‘rain down hell’ if US escalates war

Key points

• Iran's foreign minister warned Tehran would "rain down hell" if the US resumes attacks.
• Trump said renewed strikes are "highly unlikely" if talks on Iran's nuclear programme progress.
• An oil tanker caught fire after hitting a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has warned that Tehran will "rain down hell" if the United States resumes attacks, issuing what Al Jazeera described as an ultimatum aimed at ending the two countries' eight-month war. In a post on X on Sunday, Araghchi said Iran's two-day proposal stands: meet the requirements, including an end to war on all fronts, and results will follow. Otherwise, he said, the US should choose war and face Iran's "battle-hardened warriors".

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that renewed strikes on Iran are "highly unlikely" if negotiations progress over Tehran's nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking in a phone interview reported by CNN, Trump said it depends on whether Iran signs "a very strong agreement", adding that he would continue strikes if necessary but that the US had already hit Iran hard.

Military warnings from both sides

Trump said US forces have three aircraft carriers stationed in the region "fully locked and loaded", ready to continue strikes if needed. He also said the US has 38 bridges in Iran in its sights that its forces "can knock down in literally one hour".

Iran's Foreign Ministry quoted Araghchi in an earlier Sunday statement saying Iran would "not go easy on American targets" in the region. IRGC Brigadier-General Ali Belali, an adviser to the commander of the Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Force, said the armed forces are ready and any enemy mistake would bring a "devastating and severe" response, adding that weapons have been "secured for years to come".

Or choose war, and see our alert and battle-hardened warriors rain down hell

— Abbas Araghchi

Tanker fire and delayed talks

Araghchi's statements came after state media reported that an oil tanker caught fire earlier that morning after hitting a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz, citing Iran's navy. The navy claimed the ship's identification systems were turned off and that it was travelling in the strait's no-go zone.

The exchanges follow US midterm elections in which the Democratic Party won control of both chambers of Congress, defeating Trump's Republican Party. Araghchi alleged negotiations have been delayed because of the elections, saying it will take time for the atmosphere to become conducive to mediators resuming their visits.